Thermostat case



y 1965 R. ROSEN 3,181,724

THERMOSTAT CASE Filed Sept. 4, 1962 2 SheetsSheet 1 Bose-er Ross/v 6 wm/zam R. ROSEN THERMOSTAT CASE May 4, 1965 Filed Sept. 4, 1962 .F'Ga o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. R0858? ROSE/v EZM M1710,

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United States Patent 3,181,724 THERMOSTAT CASE Robert Rosen, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 221,017 14 Claims. (Cl. 220-31) This invention relates to containers, and especially to containers that house room thermostats.

Such containers include a base and a cover. These are so arranged that the circumambient air may freely enter and pass through the container. In this way the thermostat is subjected to the temperature of the air in the room, and responds thereto.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a thermostat case that can be easily installed, and in which a hinged cover may be completely replaced.

By providing an easily removable cover, the base can be securely and easily attached to the wall without interference from the cover.

It is another object of this invention to utilize appropriate plastic material for the base and cover, having sufiicient resilient characteristics to permit separation of the hinge parts; and particularly by making one of the hinge parts readily bendable.

It is another object of the invention to improve in general thermostat casings, and particularly by forming the hinge and latch parts integrally with the base and cover. In this way, a substantial reduction in cost is attained.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification, and which drawings, unless as otherwise indicated, are true scale. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a thermostat case embodying the invention, a part of the cover being broken away, and the thermostat structure within the case being omitted;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 22 of FIG. 1, the cover member being shown closed in full lines, and in open position in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 4-4 of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a plane corre sponding to line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the base member and the cover member, shown with the latch members and the hinge members about to be placed in operative engagement;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to the upper portion of FIG. 8, illustrating further interengaging movement of the latch members; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating further engaging movement between the hinge parts carried respectively by the base member and by the cover member.

The base member 1 is made from appropriate molded plastic material. It is shown in this instance as having a flat rectangular base portion 2 and provided with a relatively short peripheral flange 3. This flange is adapted to rest against and to be attached to a wall surface 4 (FIG. 2). The base portion 2 may be secured to the wall surface 4 by the aid of appropriate fastening means, such as the screws 5 passing through elongated openings in the base portion 2.

The base member 1 and the base portion 2 serve to support the operative elements of the thermostat. Since the invention is concerned with the thermostat case and not with the thermostat, the various bosses, apertures and other configurations of the base member 1 for facilitating the mounting of the thermostat parts have been purposely omitted.

The cover member 6, also molded from plastic material, has a rectangular outline immediately overlying the base member 1. It has a deep peripheral flange 7 projecting toward the base portion 2 but spaced from the base portion 2, as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, for the purpose of permitting circulation of air between the members 1 and 6.

The cover member 6 also has a relatively shallow peripheral flange 8 projecting outwardly from the cover proper 9. The cover proper 9 may have a rectangular opening 10 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 8, and it may also have scale markings or degree markings 11.

Both the base member 1 and the cover member 6 are provided with hinged parts formed integrally with the plastic material out of which the members 1 and 6 are made. Thus, adjacent the lower edge of the base portion 2 there are two spaced hollow lugs 12. These lugs are purposely formed hollow to provide recesses for the accommodation of the cooperating hinge parts hereinafter to be described. The hollow hinge lugs 12 also facilitate molding since the through aperture 13 in the base portion 2 corresponds in width to the hollow space in the hinge 12, all as shown most clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As indicated in FIGS. 6 and 9, each of the lugs is provided with exterior sloping cam surfaces 14 forming channels for guiding the hinge parts when they are urged together, as hereinafter described. A pair of these surfaces, as shown most clearly in FIG. 9, are disposed on opposite sides of the hinge part 12.

The cover member 6 is provided with the integrally spaced arms 15, shown most clearly in FIG. 6. These arms extend substantially beyond the flange 7 and terminate in inwardly directed projections or trunnions 16. The arms 15 are purposely made long and integrally joined to the cover proper 9 so that they may be spread apart by engagement with the tapered surfaces 14 on each side of the hinge part or lug 12. The spreading is illustrated in FIG. 11. The surfaces 14 are so spaced angularly about the axis of the lug 12 as to be in proper guiding position when the cover member 6 overlies the base member 1.

When the arms 15 are adequately spread apart, the projections 16 can then snap into proper hinging relationship, within the hollow hinge lugs 12, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The arms 15 as illustrated in the bottom portion of FIG. 8 have just engaged the tapered surfaces 14. FIG. 9 also shows this position.

Openings 17 extend through the cover proper 9 and between the arms 15 to facilitate the molding operation.

A pair of latching structures is also provided detachably to hold the cover member 6 in the closed position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, rising from the base por tion 2 is a pair of spaced latch members 18 having hooked ends 19. Openings 20 to facilitate molding are provided in the cover proper 9 adjacent the latch members 18.

Cooperating with the latch members 18 are the latch members 21 integrally formed with the cover member 6. As shown most clearly in FIG. 8, these latch members are of substantial length and extend from the inner surface of the cover 9 to beyond the flange 7 and are provided with latching projections 22. These latching projections are intended to be sprung over the hooked ends 19. This springing action is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10. The fully engaged position is illustrated in FIG. 3

The edges of arms 21, as shown most clearly in FIG. 5,

'have divergent flanges 24. A quadrilateral opening 25 adjacent the latch members 21 is provided in the cover proper 9 to facilitate molding.

Due to the length of the arms 15 and of the latching members 21, sufficient resilience is imparted to the hinge members and latch members to permit ready engagement and disengagement of the cooperating parts, whereby the cover member 6 may at will be entirely removed.

Once the base member 1 is installed on the Wall surface 4, the cover member 6 may be opened up, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, for access to the thermostat parts. This is accomplished by merely pulling the upper edge of the cover member 6 so that the cover memher 6 assumes the position of the phantom lines of FIG. 2.

The inventor claims:

1. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed lug integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; and a moldable cover member having a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover member, and capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively seated at said arcuate hearing edges.

2. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; said lug having a pair of sloping cam surfaces in its said intermediate portion terminating respectively at said arcuate bearing edges, said sloping surfaces defining guiding channels; and a moldable cover member having a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover member, and capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively engaging said guiding channels for movement into seated position at said arcuate bearing edges.

3. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely Within the axial projection of said aper ture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; and a moldable cover member having a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover member, and capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively seated at said arcuate bearing edges; said cover having a peripheral flange opposed to said base member and encompassing as well as sub stantially concealing said hinge arms, said flange having end edges spaced from said base member to provide clearance for angular movement of the members about the axis of said trunnions and for interior access of an1- bient air.

4. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the inter mediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; and a moldable cover member having an aperture and a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover and extending inwardly of the cover member from opposite sides of said aperture of said cover member, said arms being capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively intersecting the projection of the said aperture parallel to said arms, said trunnions being respectively seated at said arcuate bearing edges.

5. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; said lug having a pair of sloping cam surfaces in its said intermediate portion terminating respectively at said arcuate bearing edges, said sloping surfaces defining guiding channels; and a moldable cover member having an aperture and a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover and extending inwardly of the cover member from opposite sides of said aperture of said cover member, said arms being capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively intersecting the projection of the said aperture parallel to said arms, said trunnions being respectively engageable with said guiding channels for movement into seated position at said arcuate bearing edges.

6. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; and a moldable cover member having an aperture and a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover and extending inwardly of the cover member from opposite sides of said aperture of said cover member, said arms being capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively intersecting the projection of the said aperture parallel to said arms, said trunnions being respectively seated at said arcuate bearing edges; said cover having a peripheral flange opposed to said base member and encompassing as well as substantially concealing said hinge arms, said flange having end edges spaced from said base mmeber to provide clearance for angular movement of the members about the axis of said trunnions and for interior access. of ambient air.

7. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely Within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; a moldable cover member having a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover member, and capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively seated at said arcuate bearing edges; said base having a second aperture and a latch arm extending from one side of said second aperture, said latch arm having a latching projection intersecting the projection of said second aperture along said latch arm; said cover member having an aperture and a companion latch arm extending from one side of said aperture of said cover member with a latching projection cooperatively positioned with respect to said latching projection of said base member, and intersecting the projection of said cover member aperture along said companion latch arm.

8. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; said lug having a pair of sloping cam surfaces in its said intermediate portion terminating respectively at said arcuate bearing edges, said sloping surfaces defining guiding channels; and a moldable cover member having a pair of binge arms formed integrally with the cover member, and capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively engaging said guiding channels for movement into seated position at said arcuate bearing edges; said base having a second aperture and a latch arm extending from one side of said second aperture, said latch arm having a latching projection intersecting the projection of said second aperture along said latch arm; said cover member having an aperture and a companion latch arm extending from one side of said aperture of said cover member with a latching projection cooperatively positioned with respect to said latching projection of said base member, and intersecting the projection of said cover member aperture along said companion latch arm.

9. In a thermostat case: a moldable case member havin an aperture and a substantially semi-circular lug formed integrally with the base member and extending from one side of the aperture to the other with the intermediate portion of the lug spaced outwardly from the end of the aperture of the base member, said lug having an inner surface opposed to the end of the aperture and lying entirely within the axial projection of said aperture; said lug surface terminating at arcuate bearing edges on opposite sides of the lug; a moldable cover member having a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover member, and capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions re spectively seated at said arcuate bearing edges; said base having a second aperture and a latch arm extending from one side of said second aperture, said latch arm having a latching projection intersecting the projection of said second aperture along said latch arm; said cover member having an aperture and a companion latch arm extending from one side of said aperture of said cover member with a latching projection cooperatively positioned with respect to said latching projection of said base member, and intersecting the projection of said cover member aperture along said companion latch arm; said cover having a peripheral flange opposed to said base member and encompassing as well as substantially concealing said hinge arms and said latch arms, said flange having end edges spaced from said base member to provide clearance for angular movement of the members about the axis of the trunnions and for interior access of ambient air.

10. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having a lug, said lug having means forming bearing seats at opposite ends; and a moldable cover member having an aperture and a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover and extending inwardly of the cover member from opposite sides of said aperture, said arms being capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively intersecting the projection of said aperture parallel to said arms, said trunnions being respectively seated at opposite ends of said lug.

11. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having a lug, said lug having means forming bearing seats at opposite ends; and a moldable cover member having an aperture and a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover and extending inwardly of the cover member from opposite sides of said aperture, said arms being capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively intersecting the projection of said aperture parallel to said arms, said trunnions being respectively seated at opposite ends of said lug; said base member having an aperture and a latch arm extending from one side of said aperture, said latch arm having a latching projection intersecting the projection of said second aperture along said latch arm; said cover member having a second aperture and a companion latch arm extending from one side of said second aperture with a latching projection cooperatively positioned with respect to said latching projection of said base member, and intersecting the projection of said second cover member aperture along said companion latch arm.

12. In a thermostat case: a moldable base member having a lug, said lug having means forming bearing seats at opposite ends; and a moldable cover member having an aperture and a pair of hinge arms formed integrally with the cover and extending inwardly of the cover member from opposite sides of said aperture, said arms being capable of resilient flexure toward and away from each other, said arms having opposed trunnions respectively intersecting the projection of said aperture parallel to said arms, said trunnions being respectively seated at opposite ends of said lug; said base member having an aperture and a latch arm extending from one side of said aperture, said latch arm having a latching projection intersecting the projection of said second aperture along said latch arm; said cover member having a second aperture and a companion latch arm extending from one side of said second aperture with a latching projection cooperatively positioned with respect to said latching projection of said base member, and intersecting the projection of said second cover member aperture along said companion latch arm; said cover having a peripheral flange opposed to said base member and encompassing as well as substantially concealing said hinge arms and said latch arms, said flange having end edges spaced from said base member to provide clearance for angular movement of the members about the axis of the trunnions and for interior access of ambient air.

13. In a thermostat case: a pair of moldable members; means forming a hinge connection between said members; each of said members having an aperture and an integrally formed latch arm extending from one side of the aperture and provided with a latching projection intersecting the projection of the corresponding aperture along the latch arm, the latch arm being capable of resilient deflection; the latching projections of the respective latch arms being movable in intersecting paths for mutual latching engagement.

14. In a thermostat case: a pair of moldable members; means forming a hinge Connection between said members; each of said members having an aperture and an integrally formed latch ann extending from one side of the aperture and provided With a latching projection intersecting the projection of the corresponding aperture along the latch arm, the latch arm being capable of resilient deflection; the latching projections of the respective latch arms being movable in intersecting paths for mutual latching engagement; one of said members having a peripheral flange opposed to the other of said members and encompassing and substantially concealing said latch arms and said hinge References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,830 Ruskin "Feb. 7, 1956 3,042,247 Bonnet July 3, 1962 3,061,137 Svoboda et al. Oct. 30, 1962 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. IN A THERMOSTAT CASE: A MOLDABLE BASE MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE AND A SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR LUG FORMED LUG INTEGRALLY WITH THE BASE MEMBER AND EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF THE APERTURE TO THE OTHER WITH THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE LUG SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE END OF THE APERTURE OF THE BASE MEMBER, SAID LUG HAVING AN INNER SURFACE OPPOSED TO THE END OF THE APERTURE AND LYING ENTIRELY WITHIN THE AXIAL PROJECTION OF SAID APERTURE; SAID LUG SURFACE TERMINATING AT ARCUATE BEARING EDGES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LUG; AND A MOLDABLE COVER MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF HINGE ARMS FORMED INTERGRALLY WITH THE COVER MEMBER, AND CAPABLE OF RESILIENT FLEXURE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, SAID ARMS HAVING OPPOSED TRUNNIONS RESPECTIVELY SEATED AT SAID ARCUATE BEARING EDGES. 